Editorial: First lady's Oscar appearance a step too far

If anyone else is wondering what first lady Michelle Obama was doing Sunday night presenting the Academy Award for best picture via remote from the White House, join the club.

Mrs. Obama looked great and exuded class after being introduced by legendary Hollywood bad boy Jack Nicholson. But her remarks were the standard pap and dross that Hollywood loves to hear — and say — about itself.

Oddly surrounded by a half dozen young military personnel in uniform, the first lady said that the nominated films “took us back in time and all around the world. They made us laugh. They made us weep and made us grip our armrests just a little tighter. They taught us that love can endure against all odds and transform our minds in the most surprising ways. And they reminded us that we can overcome any obstacle if we dig deep enough and fight hard enough to find the courage within ourselves.”

Certainly, the ultra-violent slave fantasy “Django Unchained” left us feeling all those wonderful emotions.

Not since 1973, when Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to refuse his best actor Oscar because of the “poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry,” has the presence of a surprise guest been so ridiculously contrived.

The appearance was reportedly the bright idea of mega-Obama supporter Harvey Weinstein, who prevailed upon the academy to offer the invitation.

As Mrs. Obama’s spokesperson explained, “The Academy Awards approached the first lady about being a part of the ceremony. As a movie lover, she was honored to present the award and celebrate the artists who inspire us all — especially our young people — with their passion, skill and imagination.”

Critics on the right were more full-throated in their criticisms of the White House’s decision to be part of this pageant and especially the use of military men and women as “props” for a show biz event.

There is nothing inherently wrong with Hollywood celebrities making their opinions known when it comes to politics. They are Americans and voters and entitled to express their opinions, whether it is Scarlett Johannson at the Democratic Convention last year or Clint Eastwood at the GOP shindig.

But it is obvious to all that when it comes to politics, Hollywood has far more liberal voices than conservative ones.

As for the first lady, we can well understand that the chance to appear before a billion people would be hard for any public figure to turn down.

But in this case, all the White House managed to do was provide ammunition to its detractors who wish to remind voters of just how close this administration is to a culture that a significant number of Americans find to be self-absorbed, decadent and trashy.

In a country as divided as ours, such reminders further divide instead of unite.

Sometimes staying out of the spotlight is the smartest thing an actor or a politician can do.